FC Dallas Re-Signs Defender George John to Multi-Year Deal

FRISCO, Texas (Tuesday, Dec. 4 2012) - FC Dallas re-signed 25-year-old center back George John to a multi-year deal, the club announced today. Per team and MLS policy, the terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

"I am extremely happy to have George John resign with FC Dallas for multiple years," said head coach Schellas Hyndman. "George has developed into one of the premier center backs in Major League Soccer. Moving forward, his leadership qualities will be very important to the success of FC Dallas."

John has appeared in 95 MLS games for FC Dallas since 2009, one game off the pace of 96, set by midfielder Brek Shea and defender Jair Benitez. John scored four goals and added an assist in regular season action over that same period. In postseason play, he scored a goal in Dallas' 3-0 win over the L.A. Galaxy in the 2010 Western Conference Final. John also started 25 of 30 regular season games in 2010, helping FC Dallas record a franchise-best goals against average of 0.93.

John's 2012 season in MLS began just nine days after he returned from a two-month loan period with current English Premier League side West Ham United. He finished the season with 1,756 minutes played (10th most for Dallas in 2012). FC Dallas was 7-9-7 in matches in which John played and 2-4-5 in the 11 matches John missed due to injury.

Drafted out of the University of Washington by FC Dallas with the 14th overall selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, John made his professional debut in a 3-2 win over Toronto FC on April 19, 2009.